Wells Belize '96 Diving: Coral

The Fan Coral at
the left is striking, as it sways gently in the current. The vein
structure is presumably just a fractal solution to providing
flexible strength, and not for fluid flow. There are many other
varieties of soft coral, some visible in the backgrounds of the
fish pictures.

The Thin Leaf
Lettuce Coral on the right is common off Belize, occasional in
the rest of the Caribbean, and not reported off Florida.

The hard Branched Finger Coral on the left has soft coral
protruding out of it.

The Brain Coral on the right has its coral polyps exposed,
because I took the picture at night.

The Coral on the left provides an even better view of the coral
polyps. During the day they hide for protection inside the hard
calcium holes, but at night they extend outside.